Atrazine, one of the world’s most widely used herbicides, is wreaking havoc on the sex lives of male frogs. In a new experiment, exposure to the chemical emasculated more than half of the male African claw frogs in the study, and made one in ten turn into females. The results, which were published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, have raised concerns that the herbicide found in waterways is altering amphibians’ hormones, and could potentially have similar effects on other animals, including humans.

Biologist Tyrone Hayes studied 40 male control tadpoles along with 40 male tadpoles reared in water tainted with atrazine. The levels of the chemical matched the levels the frogs would encounter in their natural settings, and was also within the drinking water standards set by the Environmental Protection Agency. The results showed that 75 percent of male tadpoles reared in atrazine-contaminated water developed into frogs that had low testosterone levels, decreased breeding gland size, feminized laryngeal development, suppressed mating behavior, reduced sperm production and decreased fertility, while the control group showed features typically found in male frogs [AFP]. Most of these “chemically castrated” frogs were unable to reproduce.

The rest of the results were even more dramatic. Ten percent of tadpoles raised in the chemically tainted water developed into frogs with male genetics but female anatomy, and some of these were actually able to breed and produce eggs. The offspring, researchers found, were all male because both parents contributed male genes. Scientists worry that the sex-reversed males and the subsequent production of all-male offspring is skewing the sex ratio of wild frog populations, and may be contributing to the decline of frog populations worldwide.

This is not the first time that Hayes has found atrazine to be wreaking havoc on male frogs. In 2002, working on the African clawed frog, the researchers found that tadpoles raised in atrazine-contaminated water become hermaphrodites – they develop both female (ovaries) and male (testes) gonads. This occurred at atrazine levels as low as 0.1 parts per billion (ppb), 30 times lower than levels allowed in drinking water by the EPA (3 ppb) [University of California, Berkeley]. Subsequent studies in the Midwest showed that male leopard frogs living in atrazine-contaminated streams often had eggs in their testes. They also had lower testosterone levels and smaller voice boxes, which scientists presumed hampered their ability to call mates.

Other studies have found that atazine can interfere with the hormones and sexual development of fish, birds, and rats. Hayes says his new findings should raise alarms about human health. “It’s a chemical . . . that causes hormone havoc,” Hayes said. “You need to look at things that are affecting wildlife, and realize that, biologically, we’re not that different” [Washington Post].

However, Syngenta, the leading manufacturer atrazine, has disputed Hayes’ studies. Hayes responded by saying that people will have to make a final call on whether the costs of atrazine exposure outweigh its benefits: “Not every frog or every human will be affected by atrazine, but do you want to take a chance, what with all the other things that we know atrazine does, not just to humans but to rodents and frogs and fish?”[AFP].

An estimated 80 million pounds of atrazine is used annually in the United States, and it’s commonly found in ground and surface water. About 75% of stream water samples and 40% of groundwater samples contain atrazine, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental advocacy group, detected atrazine in 90% of tap water samples from 139 water systems [USA Today]. The EPA is currently reviewing the herbicide, while several states are considering banning it all together. Atrazine is already banned in the European Union.

poor frogs, all so stupid people can have their perfect lawn and outdo the neighbors.

Steve

To be a bit more selfish, poor us. Who the hell knows what this stuff is doing to us?!

Also, with 80M pounds being sold and contaminated streams being cited, I’m leaning towards farmers as the main source of atrazine’s introduction to the water. Not that people aren’t stupidly wasting billions of gallons of potable water on their lawns; that’s still stupid.

Craig

Atrazine is a restricted-use herbicide in the United States. Consequently I would be very surprised if it used at all in lawn care. Atrazine is instead used for weed control in corn and other similar crops.

Katharine

The African clawed frog, if I remember correctly, is Xenopus laevis. Shame on Discover for not pointing this out!

Since we know a lot about the genetics of this frog, they could capture a few hermaphroditic specimens and examine the effects of atrazine on the genome.

Mike

Craig – then my lawn statement is flawed and it should say “stupid corn growers”..and I take back the stupid…ignorant is more appropriate. Steve…I agree…we should be looking more at these species as their biochem pathways are basically the same as ours. If it harms them, then it’s harming us.

Cheryl

All these studies, emasculated frogs, bee populations devastated, gay cows. Why do we humans separate ourselves from all the other animals? If it affects them, it affects all of us. Within “Acceptable” limits of poison are still poisons. What an oxymoron! Decimation of frogs = decimation of humans.

Ryan

Some of you guys are out to lunch. Amphibians breath through their skin; they spend the first stages of their lives completely immersed in water. Are any of you ready to argue that ingesting and inhaling a chemical are the same thing (for humans)? Results like this should raise alarm and warrant further investigation into how atrazine may affect humans, but this knee-jerk assumption that a result like this proves the same level of atrazine harms human in a similar way is just intellectual laziness.

For example: Mike, why not say “If it harms them, then it could affect us”? I’m not asserting its affects one way or another, but you are. Because your statement could end up being true it warrants study, but it isn’t a certainty either.

Daniel

I live in the Midwest where atrazine is used widely in no till farming. In fact I was until recently a county weed applicator and dealt with atrazine and a number of other herbicides. My point is simply this. Farmers, property owners, as well as government agencies do not care about this situation. I was fired from my position for not just dumping the hazourdous chemicals out in a ditch! Since that is the way it has been done for thirty years as I was told. I am not simply talking about atrazine either. I am talking about methlthylamine, arsenic, cyanide, and a whole host of others. Long story short I believe that until we can get strict controls on what is going in to the water supply individuals, even in government offices, will continue to abuse and dump chemicals of a hazordous nature wherever they can. Until people start having adverse health reactions to these poisons we use everyday, nothing will be done. Unfortunately by the time that happens our water supplies will be so polluted, I dont know what will be able to be done. People do not care about frogs. All everyone seems to care about is how will this affect me or my finances. And that regretably is the American way.